Valve leakage indicator



1941 I E. J. GRACE, JR 2,430,122

VALVE LEAKAGE INDICATOR Filed Oct. 15, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 X/ X2 X2 X4 X: 7 X6 y, 1 B2 8, B4. B6 B6 2 v v F 72 Ta 74- 7azz AL l THERMOCOUPLE V: K3 4 K; 345.

INVENTOR I BY 60M m. a., ATTORNEYS EDWARD J. GRACE JR.'

Nov. 4, 1947.

E. J. G-RACE, JR 2,430,122

VALVE LEAKAGE INDICATOR Filed Oct. 15, 1943 2 sheets-s eet 2 x. X1 X1 x1 x) x/ 5/v 52 5; B4 A; 6

77 T2 .7; r4 r6 l8 h? up a k E 75 Q1 V2 V3 V4 K7 13/ Y; a 3 Y4 BY I ATTQRNEYG Patented Nov. 4, 1947 ZABhdZZ VALVE LEAKAGE INDICATOR EdwardJ. Grace, Jr, Chester, .Pa, ,assignortc Still on compa y,P a elrhiar a a c rp ra- .tion of New Jersey Application ()ctober 15, 1943, Se rial No, 506307 .5 Claims. ;1

The present inventionrelates to an indicating system and is concerned particularly with apparatus for checking the operation of valves which control flow of fluids utilized in various processes.

The invention finds utility in processes which require .valves to be. opened or closed in timed sequence and wherein it is essential that the condition of operation of certain valves be known before one or more other valves are set into operation. It is especially adapted to such processes asthe catalytic production of low boiling hydrocarbons from higher boiling hydrocarbons or gases, of high octane gasoline by cracking or treating, of toluene by cyclicizing or cracking and of butadiene by dehydrogenation.

In thecatalytic treatment of hydrocarbonsto obtainthe desired product, the catalyst becomes contaminated by carbon deposit, during the onstream operation and loses itsactivity which must be restored after a period on-stream by removal of the deposit during aregeneration period. It is usually necessaryor desirable to purge the catalyst after the on-strearn operation aswell as after the regeneration operation in, order to remove from thematerial .an y fluid remaining from one orthe other of the pr ced p tions. When thecatalyst is used in in -si tu opera--v tion in a converter itwill be appreciated that several valves are required to regulate the supply of the various on-stream, regeneration and purge fluids to the converter and other valves required for the removal of these fluids or products from the converter. In the commercial adaptation of this particular type of catalytic operation it has been found mostpractical to utilize a plurality of converters-in a single plant 50 that at least one converter is on'stream at all times in order to give a continuous supply of the de sired product. 'It follows then that a commercial plant of this type requires a great number of valves and depending upon the length of the on stream and regeneration periods of operation, which for most processes are relatively short, it is necessary to open and close each valve many times during a twenty-four'hour period of plant operation.

The various fluids used in a process must be supplied to the converter and removed therefrom in proper sequence and in order to control the great number of valve operations in a commercial plant it is the practice to re ulate the operations of the valves from a central control house which is usually somewhat removed from the plant itself. To this end a time cycle con.-

trol apparatus of .the type disclosedin Patent No. 2, 50,453, i s t H nry ppe 1 1 3129, 1941, or thatdisclosed inP Jerl No. 2,259,507, issued to Henry .Thornasetal, July 29,. lg llgboth of which arecapableof effecting the desired sequence of valveoperations tenant/ iven IQcess, are usedin commercial plants. Cycle timer apparatus of eitherof the above types is alsoprovided with. an arrangement fo testing the actual movement of the valvein order to make. certain that thevalvehas r sp nded to heactuationc the .c rle timer- .lf .upon testinethe operat on of a alve it s foun Lt at h valve ha not pro rly res nded. then theope at cncf the pl n istempo ar v shut downnn illt e .deiective l e s Putin-Prope workins ond tion. f e a Va v ha vbe n a tuat d th tes .Q his a v ma how a it hasph cal y m e t 0 lpq i n from th o en-po i n, but i occasionallyhappens thata valve does not seat properlyilpon closing and hence, permits the intermingling of fluids by leakage through the valve. In order to overcome this it .is the practice to admit an extraneous fiuid,such assteam, to the Valvev seat or across thepath of possible valve leakage inorder to block thepassage of the process fluid volumes on either side of the valve and thus prevent any improper mixing of the process fluids which might, with certain chemical processes, provide dangerous rnixtures in the supply lines or in the vconverter itself. Arrangements for accomplishing this are disclosed intheaforementioned Thomas et a1. patent and also in Patent No. 2,200,310, issued to CLH. Thayer et al. on May 14, 1940, but according tothe teachings oi thes'e patents it is necessary that an operator inspect each valve to determine whether the valve has properly seated. After this, it is then necessary for the operator out in theplant to get in touch with the control room in order to give notice that a valve is not operating in a proper manner.

It is an object of the. presentinvention to indicate the condition oioperation of a plurality-of valves at the placeofcontrol of the actuation of the valves. Another object :is to indicate in timed relation'and at a remotepoint the condition ofv operation of a plurality of sequentially actuated valves. Another object is to. control the operation and indicate the condition of operation of a plurality of valves at a remote point. Other objects of the invention will-be apparentas the description progreses, for-which purpose reference may be had to the accompanying;drawings, :in wh h Fig. 1 is generally a diagrammatic view of one embodiment of the invention with portions of the apparatus shown in section or in'detail for the purpose of clarity;

Fig. 2 is a modified arrangement of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view generally similar to Fig. l but showing a modification thereof.

Referring to Fig. 1 the time control apparatus is by preference electrical and comprises a stationary timing disc Hl located in the control room and provided about its periphery witha plurality of segments S which are contacted in sequence and at predetermined time intervals by an energizing arm H secured to and rotatable with a drive shaft l2. Each of the valves to be actu ated, during the process cycle, to open or closed position by the timer will be in circuit with a selected segment of disc l and for the purpose of clarity only the actuation of one valve will be described since the others will operate in a similar manner. As the arm ,Il contacts segment S1, power from a source (not indicated) will energize this segment and send current through line l3 to motor M ,of valve V1 which, like the other valves tobe actuated, is located in the plant. The valves for the purposeof this description will be of the gate typeandthe motor M will be arranged to raise the gate M of each-valve to allow. reactant fluid to flow therethrough or to lower the gate. 14 to the valve seat and prevent flow of reactants therethrough. Consider the motor M of valve V1 to be set to move the gate 14 from theraised or open position, then when current energizes the. motor through segment& the gate I4 will be moved downwardly. by shaft l5 through suitable gearing within the motor. After a predetermined period of time has elapsed the gate should reach-its lowermost position, as indicated, and in order to check the valve closing or to block the flow of the fluid volumes on either side of the gate M an extraneous fluid is supplied to the valve seat. The .extraneous fluid, for example, a saturated vapor such as steam, is supplied at a knowntemperature, pressure and rate of. flow to a fluid blockin system comprising a main "5 and valved branch steam blocking lines B each of which is'in direct communication with the seat of a valve. When the gate M of valve V1 is lowered shaft I5 is arranged through mechanical or other connections l! to open a valve X1 inblocking line Brwhen the gate reaches its lowermost position and admit fluid from main IE to the blocking chamber I 8 of the valve. Segments S2, S3, S4, S5 and Se will be in circuit respectively with the motors of valves V2, V3, V4. V5 and V6 (not shown) and the fluid from the mainline IE will be admitted by blocking lines B2, B3, B4, B5 and B6 to the seats, respectively of vavles- V2, V3, V4, V5, and Vs, after each valve has been actuated to closing in a manner similar to that explained in'the'description of valve V1.

' The" fluid from 'the blocking system which is admitted to the seatsof thevalves will'be supplied to the line I Eat a desired temperature, pressure and rate of flow which is suitable to block or prevent the interminglingl of any fluid volumes on either side of the valve gate I4 under normal conditions oi operation and when the temperature, pressure or rate of flow of the fluid in the steam blockingsystem rises or falls above or below that considered proper for normal operationthis condition can, according to the pres ent invention, be used to indicate the improper operation of the valves in the plant at a remote point, for example, in the control house.

In Fig. 1 the apparatus is arranged to indicate the condition of operation of the valves in accordance with the temperature existing in the blocking lines. Assume the temperature of the steam in the blocking lines B1, B2, B3, B4, B5 and B5 to be at about 300 F. when the valves are operating normally and a normal supply of fluid is being admitted to the valve seats, then any increase in temperature of the fluid in any one of theselines will mean that more than a normal volume of fluid is being sent to a valve and hence that it has not seated properly. To utilize this temperature fluctuation for indicating remotely the condition of operation of each valve, thermocouples T1, T2, T3, Tt, T5, and T6 are inserted. respectively, in these fluid blocking lines and each is placed in circuit with an indicating device in such a manner that the temperature of the fluid obtaining in each blocking line is indicated for each valve after it has been actuated to close. To this end each thermocouple as illustrated by thermocouple T1 in blocking line B1 is electrically connected by lines 20 and 2| with a potentiometer P located in the control house. A switch is interposed in' one of these lines and comprises a disc 22 which may be similar to timing disc I0 and provided on its periphery with a plurality yin of segments Z which are energized in sequence by switch arm 23, secured on shaft l2, at a predetermined time interval after the actuating segments S have been energized. The segments Z1, ZzfZa,

Z4, Z5, and 26 are placed in circuit, respectively,

) with thermocouples T1, T2, T3, T4,-T5, and T6 and lines 3 is indicated on the potentiometer P- through brush arm 24. A dialD is associated with the shaft l2 and located near the potentioineter P to indicate readily to the cycle timer operator which valve operation is registering.

In Fig. 2 a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1 is shown slightly modified to adapt it to function 1 in carrying out the invention when the extra neous blocking medium is in the gaseous state. Consider the fluid in line B1, for example, to be CO2, then to indicate the condition of the gas after valve V1 has been actuated to close, a pressure gauge or Venturi flow meter or gauge diagrammatically shown at G1 is inserted in line B1 and the gauge indicating arm arranged to actuate aswitch 25 counter-clockwise in accordance with the decrease in pressure of the gas in line B1 to contact switch S. The switch 25 will be placed in circuit with a signal such as light 26 through the segments B1, etc., and brush arm 24. Current will be supplied by line 21 and when the switch 25 closes due to an abnormal decrease in pressure of the gas the light 26 will indicate the improper operation of the valve.

Fig. 3 shows a modified arrangement of synchronizing the cycle timer control of the valves with the valve condition indicating means. The segments S of timer disc l0 are placed in circuit with the motors of the valves to be actuated as shown by line l3 connecting the segment 51 with motor M of valve V1. After the valve gate M is moved downwardly by shaft E5 the extraneous fluid from main is is admitted to blocking line B1 as the connection H operates to open valve X1 to supply the fluid to'the valve blocking chamber iii. The segments S2, S3, S4, S5 and Se will be arranged to actuate the motors of valves V2, V3, V4, V5 and V6 and after each valve gate has been lowered 'ito iits seatin'g lposition maid from the bldcklri'g lins Bm- BaflBi,iBs anli B6 will be 2am mittedzin sequence to the seats of th vaivesgail asvexplainednn the 7 description of Fi g -l.

In :Fig. at ---an arrangementie shown which is designed to indicate the operationioffthe valves in accorda'nce with the rate of flow of fluid through the blocking lines B1, B2, etc. The appa ratus comprises --'a differential pressure switch purchasable on the market and which in sheet is a bellows D having a diaphrag-m in positio-ned centrally thereacross dividing the bellows into upper and lowerchambers. Theuppe'r'and lower chambers are connected respectively to the-connull: 31 through tubes M -and-:4.2=?and anioriflce plate s :positioned .in theaconduit B1 *Zarfd ithe connectionsiofthe tubes .4l ,anddZ are made-with th-e iconduitjBi on either sidezof :th'e orificeiplate. Agpointen-arm M is mechanicallyconnectedwith the diaphragm 4.0 and is actuatedthroughlrriovement of the-diaphragm. The-arrangement shown in Fig. 4 can be substituted .for the members G1 and 25 of Fig. 2 heretoforedesc'ribed. Normally the pointer arm 44 is maintained out of contact with-switch S which is 'inzcircuit withi p'olwer supplyelinedl. .Upon abnormalizorlincreasedirate of flow through conduit E1 the pressure exerted on the diaphragm 40 will be such as to move the pointer arm 44 into contact with the switch S and complete the circuit to the indicator light 26 of Fi 2.

In order to indicate remotely the condition of operation of the valves in accordance with variations from the normal of the temperature, pres sure or rate of flow of the extraneous fluid in the blocking lines a motor 30 which is one of a pair of self synchronizing devices is located in the control room and has its armature rotated by shaft 12 as the energizer arm II is rotated in contact with segments S of the timing disc Ill. The second device of the pair is a motor 31 located in the plant and has its armature displaced in synchronism with shaft I2 by motor 30 through electrical connections 32. The motor 3| rotates switch arm 33 through shaft 34 sequentially over segments Y of disc 35 which are arranged to be energized a predetermined period after the segments S of the cycle timer have been energized. Each fluid responsive means will be in circuit with a segment of switch 35, as indicated by line 36 connecting thermocouple T1 with segment Y1 and each thermocouple will be in circuit with the potentiometer P as indicated by line 31. As in the description of Fig. 1 a dial D is associated with shaft 12 near the potentiometer P to indicate readily to the operator which valve operation is being registered on the potentiometer.

While the invention has been disclosed with specific details of construction, it is to be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention but are to be considered exemplary thereof.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An indicating apparatus for a plurality of valves which comprises a timing device for actuating the valves to closed position in timed sequence, a blocking fluid system including a fluid manifold and a plurality of conduits, the several conduits being in communication with the manifold and with the several valves respectively, means operable by the movement of each valve to closed position to supply blocking fluid from the manifold to the conduit communicating with such valve for passage of the fluid to the path of possible lealiage o'f-such dralve,and independeiit fluid responsive means for ea'ch'of saide nduitsginfit eating 'means oper able by said flu-id {responsive means, connections bet weensaid 'indicating means and each of said fluid responsive meana'said timin g device controlling T the admission 1 of to theconduits' tooperate theflui-d responsive means in sequence, and means between the fluid're'spo'nsive-means and-the indicating means t'o make connections therebetween in or'der to indicate so quentially and-"at ab-remote point the conditiomof the clos'ingoperations of the valves.

2. An indicating-apparatus for aEpluraIit y-bf valves which comprises a' timing device foretuati'ng the valves to closed pos'ition in timedsequence, ablockin'g fluid system including a' 'flui'd manifold and a plurality of conduits, the several conduits-being in communication with themanifold and with the *several valves respectively, means operable by "the 'movement of each valve to closed position to supply blocking 'fluid "from the man'ifo'ld to the conduit communicatingwith such valve-for passa'ge of'the fluid to 'the path of pos'sible leakage of such valve, and independent fluidrespon'sive" means for each'of "said conduits, indicating inea'ns operable by said fluid responsive means, connections between said indicating means and each of said fluid responsive means, said timing device controlling the admission of fluid to the conduits to operate the fluid responsive means in sequence, and means between the fluid responsive means and the indicating means to make connections therebetween in order to indicate sequentially and at a remote point and at a predetermined time interval the condition of the closing operations of the valves.

3. An indicating apparatus for a, plurality of valves which comprises a timing device for actuating the valves to closed position in timed sequence, a blocking fluid system including a fluid manifold and a plurality of conduits, the several conduits being in communication with the manifold and with the several valves respectively, means operable by the movement of each valve to closed position to supply blocking fluid from the manifoldto the conduit communicating with such valve for passage of the fluid to the path of possible leakage of such valve, and independent means responsive to rates of fluid flow in each of said conduits, indicating means operable by said rate of flow means, connections between said indicating means and each of said rate of flow means, said timing device controlling the admission of fluid to the conduits to operate said rate of flow means in sequence, and means between the rate of flow means and the indicating means to make connections therebetween in order to indicate sequentially and at a remote point the conditions of the closing operations of the valves.

4. An indicating apparatus for a plurality of valves which comprises a timing device for actuating the valves to closed position in timed sequence, a blocking fluid system including a fluid manifold and a plurality of conduits, the several conduits being in communication with the manifold and with the several valves respectively, means operable by the movement of each valve to closed position to supply blocking fluid from the manifold to the conduit communicating with such valve for passage of the fluid to the path of possible leakage of such valve, and independent pressure responsive means in each of said conduits, indicating means operable by said pressure responsive means, connections between said indicating means and each of said pressure responsive means, said timing device controlling the admissionof fluid to the conduits to operate the pressure responsive means in sequence, and means between the pressure responsive means and the indicating means to make connection therebetween in order to indicate sequentially and at a remote point the conditions of theoperations of the valves.

5. An indicating apparatus for a plurality of valves which comprises a timing device for actuating the valves to closed position in timed sequence, a blocking fluid system including a fluid manifold and a plurality ofconduits, the several conduits being in communication with the manifold and with the several valves respectively, means operable by the movement of each valve to closed position to supply blocking fluid from the manifold to the conduit communicating with such valve for passage of the fluid to the path of possible leakage of such valve, and independent temperature responsive means in each of said conduits, indicating means operable by said temperature responsive means, connections between said indicating means and each of said temperature responsive means, said timing device controlling the admission of fluid to the conduits to operate the temperature responsive means in sequence, and means between the temperature responsive means and the indicating means to make connections therebetween in order to indicate sequentially and at a remote point the conditions of the operations of the valves.

EDWARD J. GRACE, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record In the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,929,241 Franklin Oct. 3, 1933 1,915,993 Handel June 27, 1933 1,443,165 Brown Jan. 23, 1923 2,200,310 Thayer et a1. May 14, 1940 1,284,833 Walsh Nov. 12, 1918 1,356,598 Cahill Oct. 26, 1920 2,389,204 Ludi et al Nov. 20, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 562,264 Germany Oct. 24, 1932 514,998 Germany 1. Dec. 20, 1930 

